Rotating unit of a medical imaging device with a hydrostatic slide bearing and an integrated coolant conduit

Abstract

A rotating unit of a medical imaging device has a hydrostatic slide bearing and an integrated coolant conduit. The rotating unit includes at least one stator, at least one rotor that is borne such that it can rotate relative to the stator, and at least one portion of a circulation system for the circulation of a bearing medium, so the rotor is borne hydrostatically floating by the bearing medium. The at least one portion of the circulation system for the circulation of the bearing medium also has at least one stator-side opening and one rotor-side opening to the hydrostatic slide bearing. The rotating unit additionally has at least one at least single-channel rotary joint mounted between the rotor and the stator. The rotating unit is designed such that the bearing medium can be supplied through the stator-side opening into the hydrostatic slide bearing and the bearing medium can be supplied again through the rotor-side opening and the rotary joint into the circulation system again.

I claim as my invention: 
     
       1. A rotating unit of a medical imaging apparatus, comprising:
 a stator; 
 a rotor mounted for rotation relative to said stator; 
 a portion of a circulation system that circulates a bearing medium in a gap between said stator and said rotor in which said rotor hydrostatically floats so as to be rotatable relative to said stator; 
 a single-channel rotatory joint between said rotor and said stator; 
 said portion of said circulation system comprising a stator-side opening and a rotor-side opening in fluid communication with said bearing medium and said rotary joint, said portion of said circulation system being configured to cause said bearing medium to be supplied through said stator-side opening into said gap and to be supplied from said rotor-side opening and said rotary joint into a remainder of said circulation system, allowing said bearing medium to flow through said portion of said circulation system. 
 
     
     
       2. A rotating unit as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said portion of said circulation system comprises a choke valve situated in proximity to said rotor-side opening. 
     
     
       3. A rotating unit as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said portion of said circulation system comprises a distributor in proximity to said rotor-side opening that distributes said bearing medium in respectively different conduits. 
     
     
       4. A rotating unit as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said portion of said circulation system comprises at least one unit that imparts a flow to said bearing medium, selected from the group consisting of compressors and pumps, situated in proximity to said rotor-side opening. 
     
     
       5. A rotating unit as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said portion of said circulation system comprises at least one conduit for said bearing medium in proximity to said rotor-side opening. 
     
     
       6. A rotating unit as claimed in  claim 5  comprising a component that participates in generating image data, mounted to said rotor, and wherein said at least one conduit proceeds in or around said at least one component. 
     
     
       7. A rotating unit as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said component is an x-ray source, and wherein said bearing medium in said conduit is in thermal communication with said x-ray source and removes heat from said x-ray source that is generated by said x-ray source during operation thereof. 
     
     
       8. A rotating unit as claimed in  claim 1  comprising an x-ray source mounted at said rotor, and wherein said bearing medium is in thermal communication with said x-ray source and removes heat from said x-ray source that is generated by said x-ray source during operation thereof. 
     
     
       9. A rotating unit as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said portion of said circulation system comprises at least one filter that filters said bearing medium. 
     
     
       10. A medical imaging apparatus comprising:
 a stator; 
 a rotor mounted for rotation relative to said stator; 
 a circulation system that circulates a bearing medium in a gap between said stator and said rotor in which said rotor hydrostatically floats so as to be rotatable relative to said stator, with a portion of said circulation system being situated on said rotor; 
 a single-channel rotatory joint between said rotor and said stator; 
 said portion of said circulation system comprising a stator-side opening and a rotor-side opening in fluid communication with said bearing medium and said rotary joint, said portion of said circulation system being configured to cause said bearing medium to be supplied through said stator-side opening into said gap and to be supplied from said rotor-side opening and said rotary joint into a remainder of said circulation system, allowing said bearing medium to flow through said portion of said circulation system. 
 
     
     
       11. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said portion of said circulation system comprises a choke valve situated in proximity to said rotor-side opening. 
     
     
       12. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said portion of said circulation system comprises a distributor in proximity to said rotor-side opening that distributes said bearing medium in that respectively different conduits. 
     
     
       13. A medical imaging device as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said portion of said circulation system comprises at least one unit that in parts a flow to said bearing medium, selected from the group consisting of compressors and pumps, situated in proximity to said rotor-side opening. 
     
     
       14. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said portion of said circulation system comprises at least one conduit for said bearing medium in proximity to said rotor-side opening. 
     
     
       15. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in  claim 14  comprising a component that participates in generating image data, mounted to said rotor, and wherein said at least one conduit proceeds in or around said at least one component. 
     
     
       16. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said component is an x-ray source, and wherein said bearing medium in said conduit is in thermal communication with said x-ray source and removes heat from said x-ray source that is generated by said x-ray source during operation thereof. 
     
     
       17. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  comprising an x-ray source mounted at said rotor, and a radiation detector, said x-ray source and said radiation detector being configured to generate computed tomography data of a subject situated therebetween in a central opening of said rotor, and wherein said bearing medium is in thermal communication with said x-ray source and removes heat from said x-ray source that is generated by said x-ray source during operation thereof. 
     
     
       18. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said portion of said circulation system comprises at least one filter that filters said bearing medium. 
     
     
       19. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said circulation system comprises a connection to an external cooler that is external to said circulation system. 
     
     
       20. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said circulation system comprises a cooler that cools said bearing medium.